Kia Motors launch the Kia Ray EV in Korea

A new era begins in Korean motoring with the launch of the new Kia Ray EV which is a zero emissions city car with a range of 86 miles on a single charge

A new era begins in Korean motoring with the launch of the new Kia Ray EV which is a zero emissions city car with a range of 86 miles on a single charge. Currently there are 500 slow/fast recharge stations in Korea, and the government plans to increase that figure to 3,100 stations by the end of 2012.

The front wheel Ray EV is powered by a 50kW electric motor and a high capacity 16.4kWh lithium in polymer battery pack that is engineered for a ten year cycle and skillfully packaged under the rear seat and cabin floor.

Unlike regular gasoline vehicles the Kia Ray EV generates no engine noise, which can be a potential problem with pedestrians being unaware of the approaching car. To prevent accidents, Kia has fitted Ray EV with a VESS (Virtual Engine Sound System). When driven at speeds below 12 mph this system delivers a mixture of recorded gasoline engine noises, which are also emitted whenever the car is backing up.

During 2012, Kia is planning to manufacture 2,500 units of the Ray EV, which will be provided to government departments and public offices as part of Kia’s long-term real-world research and development program to provide environmentally friendly transport to Kia customers around the world during the next decade.